Forced-feed and steam generator



R..A. MITCHELL AND F. A. EMERICK.

FORCED FEED AND STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26. I918,

1,331,459. Patented Feb. 17,1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN A. MITCHELL AND FEANK A. EMERICK, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO B. B. FREER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FORCED-FEED AND STEAM GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1'7, 1920.

Application filed August 26, 1918. Serial No. 251,498.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, REUBEN A. MITCHELL and FRANK A. EMERICK, citizens of the United States, residing at Oil City, in the county of Venango and State'of Pennsyl vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forced-Feed and Steam Generators; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for the generation of steam, and has particular reference to a combined generator for steam and a forced feed for water employed in the'apparatus.

The object is to provide a generator by the use of which steam may be rapidly produced; which includes a forced feed device for the Water to insure the circulation of the water through the generator; and to provide an automatic means for insuring the circulation of the water in the apparatus immediately upon application of heat to the generating unit.

Another object is to provide a forced feed and steam generator embodying elements connected in series and with a storage drum or chamber by-passed from the elements to receive steam in excess pressure from the series of elements, the series'of elements including devices for maintaining automatically the circulation of water without the employment of external power; and to provide an apparatus of this character which is strictly automatic in action and provided with a pump, the speed of which is proportionate to the volume of steam generated to thus insure the circulation within the apparatus proportionate to the rate of generation of the steam.

With these and further objects in view as will in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as subsequently specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,-

The figure is a longitudinal, vertical section through one form of the apparatus of the present invention, parts being shown in elevation. I

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1O designates a furnace body composed of incasing and supporting walls of brick, or

other suitable adaptable material, and which inclose, in the upper end of the furnace, a drum or container 11. The furnace also supports a heating coil 12 adapted to contain water to be vaporized and which is located above the grate of the furnace as shown. A storage or supply tank 13 is arranged in proximity to the furnace 10 and is provided with an inlet 14 through which water may be fed to the tank 13 by a hand pump or other suitable device for introducing water into the system.

hlounted preferably upon the front wall of the tank 13, which also forms a standpipe, is a force feed water pump .15 comprising an inolosing casing within which arranged a pair of vertically disposed cylinders 16 provided in each end and at opposite sides with intake and discharge valves 17 and 18. The intake valves 1'? communicate with achamber 19 formed in the casing between the walls thereof and a partition 20 disposed in the casing, and the chamber 19 has communication with the tank 13 through a pipe 21. The partition 20 also forms an exit compartment or chamber 22 in the casing 15, and into which the outlet valves 18 open. The chamber is connected by a pipe 23 with one end of the heating coil 12 and is adapted to conduct water forced from the pump 15 to the coil 12.

The cylinders 16 of the force feed pump are provided with pistons 2% connected by rods 25 to pistons 26 located in steam cylinders 27 mounted upon the front wall of the tank 13 above the pump 15. Each cylinder 27 is provided with a steam chest 28 which communicates by pipe 29 with the other or outlet end of the coil. 12. The piston rods 25 are connected by connecting rods 30 with the cranks of a crank shaft 31 journaled upon the upper end of the tank 13 and provided with a suitable fly-wheel Valve operating links 33 are also connected to the shaft 31 and to the slide valves 31 arranged within the steam chests 2-8.

The exhaust ports of. the steam chests 28 open into a pipe 35 which leads to the top of the drum 11 and returns the steam and water of condensation to the drum, the water and steam being separated in the drum. The lower end of the drum 11 is connected by a return pipe 36 to the standpipe 13 for returning water from the drum to the stand-pipe or tank.

The pressure of steam from the serial tons 26 and the water pump 15.

'stean'i-actuated means for coil 12 is regulated by an adjustable pressure regulator or reducing valve 37, andeXcess steam pressure at the outlet end of the serial coil 12 is relieved through a by-pass pipe 88 leading from the coil 12 to the top of the drum ll, and including an adjustable automatic pressure regulator 39.

v The high pressure in the coil 12, regulated by the tension on the. regulator or governor 39, makes a differential pressure between the coil 12 and the drum 11 of about fifteen to twenty pounds and sufficient to operate the engine which drives the water pumps.

As soon as heat is applied to the coil 12 the water expands through the pipe 29 and into the cylinder- 27 for operating the pis- 4 As steam is generated it also follows the same course and is maintained under a predeterminedfpres sure in the coil 12 by the regulator 37, the regulator 39 being actuatedupon excess of apredetermined pressure to admit the steam to the top of the drum 11. The operation of the pistons 26 forces water from the standpipe 13 through the feed pipe 23 into the coil 12. The water is converted into steam, passes through the cylinders 26 in the operation of the steam engine, and is finally delivered into the pipe 35 which conducts the steam and water of condensation to the top of the drum. The water circuit through the drum is completed by the return pipe 14: which is arranged l etween the bottom of the drum and the lower end of the stand-pipe. The drum 11 is provided with an outlet pipe to by means of which steam may be taken from the drum for any suitable purpose, such as for driving engines, for use in steam heating systems, and the like.

What is claimed is:

1. In a forced feed and steam generator, the combination of a heating coil, a boiler connected to one end of the coil to receive steam therefrom, a water feed means connected to the other end of the coil, and including steam-actuated devices, connections between the first end of the coil and the steam-actuated devices to operate the latter, and regulating means controlling the passage of steam from the coil to the steamactuated devices and the boiler.

2. In a forced feed and steam generator, the combination of a heating coil, a boiler, a reduction valve for maintaining reduced pressure in the boiler, a water feed device, operating the Water feed device and including connections with the coil for receiving steam therefrom, a connection between the steam-actuated means and the boiler for delivering exhaust steam to the latter, and means for carrying off the products of condensation from the boiler to the water feed means.

3. In a forced feed and steam generator,

the combination of a heating element, a boiler, forced feed means for water connected to one end of the heating element, steam-actuated means connected to the heating element for operating the forced feed means for the water, means for delivering exhaust steam from the steam-actuated means to the boiler, a return connection between the boiler and the forcedfeed means for returning water of condensationthereto, and a reduction valve between the heating element and the boiler for'proviclinga differential pressure for operating said steamactuated means. I

t. In a forced feed and steam generator, the combiiiation of a: heating element, a boiler, a forced feed means for water connected to the heating element, steam-actuated devices 'for the forced feed means and connected to the heating element for operation by steam generated therein, and a pressure reduction valve connecting the heating element to the boilerfor providing a differential pressure betweenthe two for actuating the steam-actuated devices, and a second pressure controlled valve between theheatin element' and the steani actuatecl devices. o. In a forced feed and steam. generator, the combination of a heating element, a boiler connected to the heating element, a forced feed water device connected to the heating element and having steam-actuated devices for operating the same, pressure controlled connection between the heatingelement and the steam-actuated devices for operating the same by steam generated in the heating element, a reduction valve between the heating element and the boiler for causing a differential pressurebetween the two for'act-uating said steam-actuated devices, an

exhaust pipe between said steam-actuated devices and the boiler for collecting exhaust steam in the latter, and admin pipe between the boiler and the forced feed water means for returning water of condensation thereto. 6. In aforced feed and steam generator, the combination of stean actuated forced feed means for water, a heating coil connected to said water feeding means, a boiler connected to the heating coil to 're'ceive steam therefrom, a direct connection between the coil and the steamactuated water feeding means, and a second connection between the coil andthe boiler and includin a pressure reduction valve for causing a differential pressure between the two for actuating said steam-actuated water feeding means.

In testimony whereof we affix-our signatures in presence of two witnesses. L

REUBEN A. MITCHELL. FRANK A. EMERICK.

Witnesses: I 7

JOHN M. MoGmL, AlClI m mne. 

